Reading Partners Baltimore and Reading Partners DC are joining forces

To the communities of Reading Partners Baltimore and Reading Partners DC:

As some of you have already heard, beginning in July, Reading Partners will be merging our Baltimore and DC operations into one unified region which will be called Reading Partners Mid-Atlantic. After careful consideration and discussion with Reading Partners’ executive team and our national board of directors, we decided that combining the two regions—which obviously sit in close proximity to one another—will enable us to strengthen our financial position and our long-term sustainability, which will ultimately benefit students in both cities. As we explored various scenarios for our direct-service programming, it became clear that consolidation would allow us to support students in Baltimore and DC more efficiently than we have in the past. Additionally, as we expand our partnership work in an effort to grow our impact to even more students and communities, we look forward to being able to collaborate with partners that have a multi-city footprint. 

While I’m optimistic about what’s ahead for the unified Mid-Atlantic region, I also want to take a moment to celebrate the remarkable achievements our communities in DC and Baltimore have been able to accomplish individually (and in aggregate) over the past 15 years. 

The numbers above are reflective not only of incredible impact, but also of extraordinary community effort. From our talented staff and AmeriCorps members to our advisory board members, donors, and school and community partners, none of this would have been possible without your dedication and your belief that reading should be a fundamental right for every child. Whether you’ve been involved in our mission for one day or 15 years, thank you for your personal commitment to providing literacy access for ALL students. 

Beyond the exceptional Reading Partners teams in Baltimore and DC, I also want to thank their respective leaders, Zenobia Judd-Williams and Barry Brinkley. In addition to being respected professionals and first-rate human beings, Zenobia and Barry are both true champions when it comes to advancing educational opportunity. While I’m thrilled that Zenobia will serve as the leader of the combined Mid-Atlantic region starting in July, I am equally grateful that Barry will continue supporting Reading Partners through the transition to help ensure the merged region is set up for success.

Volunteerism is critically important to creating vibrant communities that promote literacy access for all. We look forward to providing ongoing opportunities to volunteer in both Baltimore and DC for years to come. For existing volunteers, a member of our team will be in touch with more information this summer. In the meantime, we invite new and returning volunteers to attend one or more sessions in our tutor engagement series over the summer. You can find more information and register here. 

Over the past decade and a half, Reading Partners has been honored to serve students and schools in the Baltimore and DC metro areas. While our organization will be structured a bit differently in the school year ahead, it will continue to be a privilege to contribute to the community-wide movement to help children read on grade level by fourth grade. 

Thank you for your support of our mission to give all students the resources they need and deserve to be able to live into their own limitless potential. 

With gratitude,

Adeola Whitney
CEO, Reading Partners